In recognition of the "staggering array of broadcast rights
the company has amassed across all the major sporting events,"
NBC Sports was awarded an INSIDE MEDIA 1995 Media Leadership
Award. NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol: "Over the next few
years, we plan to enjoy our events and championships, to have fun
and savor the excitement. But, at the same time, nothing is ever
taken for granted" (INSIDE MEDIA, 4/17)...."Hockey Night in
Canada" coverage of the NHL playoffs drew an audience of 2.17
million, "high for the first playoff night of the season" (GLOBE
& MAIL, 4/19). Rob Longley writes HNIC was "booming business in
Canada" (TORONTO SUN, 4/19)...Ascent Entertainment's pay-TV
division reached agreement to acquire rival SpectraVision out of
bankruptcy protection (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/19)....Phil
Mushnick writes ABC Sports, under Dennis Swanson, wasn't "a very
press-friendly place. Getting answers for readers was difficult."
Mushnick notes that "should change" under the leadership of
ESPN's Steve Bornstein (N.Y. POST, 4/19).. ...Westinghouse
Electric Corp. is "seriously considering splitting the company in
two," one entity exclusively for its media properties and another
for all industrial assets (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/19)....The just
released '96 edition of "Television Sports Rights" by Gould Media
Services cites NBC Sports as the best positioned network in
sports programming (Gould Media Service)... .Minneapolis STAR-
TRIBUNE columnist Dan Barreiro on the USFSA banning reporter
Christine Brennan: "The figure skating association can't decide
who is going to cover its sport any more than a movie company can
dictate which reporter is going to writes about its latest film"
(Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/19).
